Another squatter story - where does this end?

[Bruce Woodruff]

So now it hits a rich and famous person. Gordon Ramsey has had a restaurant for sale and it was taken over by professional squatters (didn't know that was a job title :-)

They planned to give away free food and open an art gallery there and are threatening to prosecute anyone entering without their permission. Wow.

It seems that in England a non residential building can be legally squatted.....?

[Kevin Sobilo]

@Bruce Woodruff there used to be a TV show where they showed how they forcibly repossess these commercial properties, collect on judgement debts, etc all over in England. It was a good show. I think it was called something like Nightmare Tenants & Slum Landlords.

It was a good show. If you can find episodes its worth watching!

[Russell Brazil]

Where does it end?

It doesnt end until a few people end up dead from these situations. Only then will the government do something about it. 

[Bruce Woodruff]

Quote from @Russell Brazil:

Where does it end?

It doesnt end until a few people end up dead from these situations. Only then will the government do something about it. 

Russell - you're probably right.... I saw a story the other day where squatters broke into a house while the owners were home and claimed ownership. That kind of thing is not going to end well......

[Jay Hinrichs]

Quote from @Russell Brazil:

Where does it end?

It doesnt end until a few people end up dead from these situations. Only then will the government do something about it. 

its started with de Santis in FLA  signing in the new law and allowing a Sheriff like Sheriff Grady to go knock some heads and believe me they will in FLA . finally some law and order :)  GA is on the cusp of signing the same type of legislation.. the real issues is the states we know to be Tenant friendly .  its going to be turning those around those states that will be the tough one . Also I posted a news article in Vegas recently where the law there has allowed private security to go in like a Swat raid and kick out squatters. So its coming.

Oregon were i am at is bad with this as well on the resi side.. but on Commercial there is no squatting those laws that resi tenants have do not exist for Commercial you post a 3 day notice and then you can legally enter change the locks kick whoever is in out.. that includes your commercial tenant that is not paying.  Thats how we know a restaurant is being booted out you show up and the front door is chain closed.

[Brandon C.]

I just learned of this ongoing problem in the States. A group of squatters beat up the property owner and the police said they should take the property owner to jail for breaking and entering their (the squatters') property.